Hazardous chemicals found in healthcare providers' bodies

Twenty doctors and nurses recently tested for healthcare-associated toxic chemicals were all found to have some of the chemicals in their bodies, according to a study by Physicians for Social Responsibility, the American Nurses Association, and Health Care Without Harm.

Each of the 20 participants had at least 24 of the 62 chemicals that were tested for, and all had bisphenol A, phthalates, PBDEs and PFCs, which have been associated with chronic illness such as cancer and endocrine malfunction. Study participants included 12 doctors and eight nurses, with two providers coming from each of 10 states—Alaska, California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and Washington.

Nearly 98 percent of respondents to a recent survey of more than 2,100 physicians and nurses, conducted by the American College of Physician Executives, reported they had witnessed behavior problems between doctors and nurses. The most common complaint was degrading comments and insults, reported by 85 percent of respondents; others included yelling, cursing, inappropriate joking, and refusal to work with each other.

Specific examples included a physician groping a radiology tech as she tried to take an X-ray; a nurse spreading false rumors about a new doctor in an attempt to get him fired; a surgeon stuffing a nurse head-first into a trash can; and a physician saying to a nurse, "You don't look dumber than my dog. Why can't you at least fetch what I need?"

Researchers develop new diabetes algorithm

A new algorithm created to help achieve glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients was published online in the September/October edition of Endocrine Practice. The one-page algorithm was released as a consensus statement from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the American College of Endocrinology.

"Depending on a patient's current A_1C level, a physician will use the algorithm to determine whether a mono-, dual-, or triple-combination therapy should be considered," says Helena Rodbard, MD, former AACE president and co-chairwoman of the Algorithm Task Force.